Shloka 30

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

शुष्कं मांसं स्त्रियो वृद्धा बालार्कस्तरुणं दधि / प्रभाते मैथुनं निद्रा सद्यः प्राणहराणि षट्

Transliteration

śuṣkaṃ māṃsaṃ striyo vṛddhā bālārkastaruṇaṃ dadhi / prabhāte maithunaṃ nidrā sadyaḥ prāṇaharāṇi ṣaṭ

Translation

ఎండిన మాంసం, వృద్ధ స్త్రీతో సంగమం, ఉదయపు బాలసూర్య కిరణాల సేవనం, తాజా పెరుగు, తెల్లవారుజామున మైథునం, తెల్లవారుజామున నిద్ర—ఇవి ఆరు తక్షణ ప్రాణహరమని చెప్పబడినవి।

Word by Word

• शुष्कम्: dry
• शुष्कम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मांसम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वृद्धाः: old/aged
• वृद्धाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘स्त्रियः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (अर्थतः स्त्रीलिङ्गे वृद्धाः=वृद्धाः/वृद्धाः स्त्रियः)

• बालार्कः: morning sun
• बालार्कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल+अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—बालः अर्कः (कर्मधारय)

• तरुणम्: fresh/young
• तरुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘दधि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रभाते: in the morning
• प्रभाते: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरणम्

• मैथुनम्: sexual intercourse
• मैथुनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• निद्रा: sleep
• निद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राणहराणि: life-taking
• प्राणहराणि: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण+हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—प्राणान् हरन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Numeral qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘प्राणहराणि’ इत्यस्य संख्या

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Kapha

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āhāra-vihāra niyama: certain foods, timings, and sexual conduct are declared immediately harmful to prāṇa in susceptible states.

Vedantic Theme: Right conduct sustains the body as a vehicle for dharma; tamasic/rajasic excess undermines steadiness (sattva).

Application: Avoid heavy/unsuitable foods and sex at improper times (dawn); maintain circadian discipline; choose diet according to strength, season, and digestion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.29 (life-shortening causes); Garuda Purana 1.114.31-33 (additional prāṇahara/bala teachings)

FAQs

What is the importance of dawn discipline (prabhāta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats dawn as a sensitive time for vitality (prāṇa), warning that certain actions—especially sleep and sex—are harmful when done at daybreak.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing conduct (ācāra) that preserves prāṇa and supports dharmic living, it frames bodily discipline as foundational for spiritual steadiness rather than describing after-death travel.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a clean morning routine: avoid oversleeping into dawn, avoid sex at daybreak, and be mindful of diet and exposure—treat early morning as a time for hygiene, prayer, and calm activity.